Letter-displaying device for lamps



(No Model.) A 2 Sheets-Sheet l.

J. P. BARRINGBR an T. H. JoHNsToN.

LETTER DISPLAYING DEVICE EOE LAMPS.

No. 456,755. Patented July 28, 1891.

WIZ/VESSES JVVE/VZS (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

J. P. BARRINGER 8v T. H. JOHNSTON. LEETEE DISELAYING DEVICE EGE LAMPS.

WIZ/VESSES NiTEn STATES ATnNT OFFICE.

JACOB P. BARRINGER AND THOMAS H. JOHNSTON, OF HARRTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

LETTER-DISPLAYING DEVICE FOR LAMPS,

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 456,755, dated July 28, 1891.

Application filed February 18, 1889. Serial No. 300,258. (No model.)

T0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, JACOB P. BARRINGER and THOMAS H. JOHNSTON, citizens ot' the United States, residing at Harrisburg, in the county of Dauphin and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Letter-Displaying Device for Lamps; and we do declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as,will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanyin g drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention has relation to certain new and useful improvements in the art of displayi ng let ters, names, advertisements, tbc., by means of the rays of light from an electric, oil, or gas lamp; and the same consists of the details of construction and arrangement of parts as hereinafter more fully shown in the drawings, and pointed out and claimed in the specification.

The general object of our invention consists in so arranging the lettering upon the ordinary street or store lamp as to display the same in a unique and attractive manner, and in suoli position as to readily present the same to the eye oi' the passer-by by day as Well as at night.

The invention further has relation to the means of displaying advertisements wherein the subject-matter sought to be brought before the public will be presented (Whether by lettering or symbols) and clearly defined upon the sidewalk, floor, walls, or other objects in such a position as to be readily observed by the passer-by.

The device further consists in displaying street-names, names, lettering, symbols, or the like in such a manner as shall be applicable, simple, and inexpensive, and which at the same time will permit oi the same being readily removed from and placed upon lamps of different or varying sizes.

Referring to the drawings forming a part of this application, Figure l is a perspective view of our improved display device applied to an electric lamp, and which is the preferred application of our improved invention. Fig.

2 is a View showing' the night display-'t' rame removed from the lamp; Fig. 3, a detail View showing one of the oblique arms removed from the night display-frameg Fig. et, a detail view showing the rear of one of the letters used incon junction with the frame and showing means of connecting the same to the frames; Fig. 5, a view showing the upper or day display-frame removed from the lamp; and Fig. (j a detail View showing one of the vertically-extending arms of the day displayframe.

Similar letters of reference are used to denote corresponding parts throughout the entire specification and the several views of the drawings.

The letter A indicates one of the lower oblique extending arms, which is used in connection with the others to secure the letterretaining strips in place and by which the same is secured in an adjusted position upon the bottom of the lamp-frame. These obliquelyextending armsare provided with rearwardly-extending' feet or shoulders B, and said shoulders are depressed at the point of connection at the base of the' obliquelyextending arms, so as to form a right angle, which permits of the same bearing closely against the angles or corners of the lampframe, as shown at O. The shoulders B are further provided with screw-threaded holes b, through which screws or bolts pass, by means of which the same may be secured to the bottom of the lamp-frame, and thus be removably secured thereon. The obliquelyextending arms A are provided with a series of holes a, through which thin light wires D are passed for the purpose of enabling the letters to be secured. Of course, if so desired, wires may be dispensed `with andlight metallic rods be used in place thereof. Ve prefer, however, to use a double row of wires for this purpose; but this is not material, as the number may be increased as practice may prove advisable.

E represents the letters used in displaying the names of streets or the like. Said letters are made of light metal, and are secured upon the wires D by means of the iexible tongues c c, secured to the back near the top and bottom thereof. Ve prefer to make the tongues integral With the body oi the letters. These letters are secured upon the wires D by IOO bending over the tongues c c, so as to surround the same.

Vhen it is desired that the display of the lettering is to be produced at night by means of the reflected rays from the light of the lamp, the lettering secured upon the wires of the frame surrounding and attached to the bottom of thelamp-frame should be inverted, as shown in Fig. l of the drawings, and so arranged thereon in such a manner that the unobstructed rays of the electric light will fall directly thereon, and inclined to such an angle that the rays will be reflected directly therefrom to the sidewalk or floor beneath. The lettering or characters wished to be displayed are thus cast unobstructed upon the place desired, and as the shadowy representations of such letters show darkly upon the lighter ground ot' the walk or floor, the appearance thus presented will be unique and well calculated to attracted the attention of the passer-by. It will be observed that the further the distance of the light from the ground or object upon which the reflectionis to be cast the greater will be the increased size of the shadowy lettering or character.

lVhile the display of the lettering' may be accomplished by the use ot oil or gas lights, still it is more desirable that our invention be used in connection with electric lights, because of the intensity of such light and the greater clearness with which the shadowy represen tationswill consequently be deti ned upon the object sought.

In order that the display of the street names or characters may be accomplished by daylight as well as at night, we provide an additional frame for attachment to the lamp-top and which is secured thereon by means of the vertically-extending arms F, as shown in the drawings. These arms are provided with a series of holes similar to those formed in the lower obliquely-extending arms of the lower frame, for the purpose of permitting the passing of wires ff therethrough. As previously stated, these wires, if so desired, may be dispensed with and light metallic rods be used in place thereof. The lettering adapted for day display is secured upon the wires or rods in a manner similar to the lower lettering, excepting that instead of the letters heilig inverted they are so placed as to be readable in the first instance. As no reflection of these letters takes place, as in the case of those intended tor night display, it is necessary, in order that .the same may be read from beneath, that the size thereof be considerably increased over those intended for use at night. The vertically-extending arms ot the upper surrounding open frame'are .provided with the rearwardly-extending foot g, which is provided with screw-threaded holes corresponding to those formed in the shoulder of the lower obliquely-eXt-ending arms, and by means of4 should be desired to place thesame on lamps provided with globular shades.

Ve are aware vthat many. minor changes .may be made in the details of construction herein shown and described without being a departure from the principle and scope of our invention.

Having thus fully described our invention,

what we claim as new, and desire to secure protection in by Letters Patent of the United States, isl l. A display apparatus for lettering at night, which consists of an open metallic frame adapted to surround a lamp, composed of obliquely-extending arms provided with depressed rearwardly extending feet or shoulders and adapted to be removably secured to the bottom ot the lamp-frame, said obliquely-extendin g arms being provided with a series of holes for the runni-ng ot' wires, whereon metallic lettering may be attached, substantially as herein shown and described.

2. In combination with a lamp, the hereindescribed open metallic frames for display of lettering by night or day, consisting of the obliquely-extending arms removably secured to the lamp-frame at its top and bottom, rods or Wires connecting said arms, and the metallic lettering removably secured upon the wire or rods, as and for the purpose herein described.

3. The combination, with a lamp, of a frame having a ring secured to the under side ot' the lamp and having its arms projecting beyond the base of the lamp, and signs secured to said arms, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof we aiiiX our sign atures in presence of two witnesses.

JACOB P. BARRINGER. THOMAS H. JOHNSTON.

Witnesses:

S. H. FLEMING, A. J. YENLIN.

ICS

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